Some Preliminary Observations on Organizational Responses in the Emergency Period after the Niigata, Japan, Earthquake of June 16, 1964

摘要

On June 16, 1964, the Niigata area of Japan was struck by the strongest earthquake to hit the country since 1923. The earthquake and accompanying flooding, seismic waves and fires in the city of Niigata itself destroyed or damaged thousands of buildings and affected over 150,000 persons. A team from the Disaster Research Center of the Ohio State University conducted a ten day field study of organizational response to the emergency both in Tokyo and the disaster area itself. The research focus was on communication, control and coordination problems. Very complex disaster plans at all governmental levels appeared to have minimized difficulties created by the catastrophe. (Author)